The Facts of Life
“ You take the goodness , you take the bad , you take them both and there you have the facts of life . ”If you just sang along , then there ’s a good chance that , like me , you grew up watching the darling sitcom , The fact of Life . The come - of - eld spinoff from the sitcomDiff’rent stroke , the series have Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett , who moves to upstate New York to be a supervisor at the dorms of Eastland Academy boarding schoolhouse . She mentor four girls : Natalie Green , Blair Warner , Jo Polniaczek , and Dorothy “ Tootie ” Ramsey , as they traverse the challenges of growing up .
Airing for nine time of year , the Emmy - nominated series was a staple of television in the eighties . While there were once rumors of a revivification for the series , thespian Mindy Cohn claim that one of the cast members sabotagedany chance of that happening . While some of the actors have remain their careers in movies and TV , others have moved on to other ventures . Still others have sadly kick the bucket , yet they will always be remembered for their talented carrying into action onThe fact of Lifeand many other dear undertaking .
The fact Of Life Cast Of Characters
Actor
character
Where They Are Now
Lisa Whelchel
Blair Warner
Host of the TV seriesCollector ’s Call
Kim Fields
Tootie Ramsey
Starring in the Netflix series , The Upshaws
Mindy Cohn
Natalie Green
Appeared in the HallmarkHearts Around the Tablemovies
Nancy McKeon
Jo Polniaczek
play in the Off - Broadway sport , Pen Pals
Charlotte Rae
Edna Garrett
die on August 5 , 2018
Cloris Leachman
Beverly Ann Stickle
Died on January 27 , 2021
John Lawlor
Steven Bradley
Died on February 13 , 2025
Lisa Whelchel As Blair Warner
She Now Hosts A Reality TV Show
Character : Though she can be a bit vain at times , Blair Warner was also recognise to be kind , loving , and a faithful friend . Born to loaded parent , Blair ’s sophisticated manner often clashed with her roommate , Jo Polniaczek , who was her personality opposite . role player Lisa Whelchel was 16 when she played Blair in the first time of year ofThe Facts of Life , and was 25 when the series end in 1988 .
Notable Movies & TV Shows
The New Mickey Mouse Club(1977 )
ego
Survivor(2012 )
Falling for Christmas(2016 )
Dale
Where Are They Now : Whelchel has been extremely fussy in the years sinceThe Facts of Lifewent off the air , both as a singer and an author . Most of late , she ’s beenhosting the MeTV reality series , Collector ’s Call , where she travel the globe in hunting of rarified pop culture collectibles .
Kim Fields As “Tootie” Ramsey
Fields Co-stars In The Upshaws On Netflix
Character : With her extroverted personality and penchant for gossip , the lovely Dorothy " Tootie " Ramsey was an essential part ofThe fact of Life’scastof characters . Often seen wear upon rolling wave skate and gallus in her youth , Tootie finally matured into a bright new charwoman . Kim Fields began the role of Tootie when she was 10 year old , and was 19 in the last season .
Living Single(1993 - 1998 )
Regine Hunter
Cobra Kai(2019 )
Sandra
The Upshaws(2021 - present )
Regina Upshaw
Where Are They Now : Since appear on reality demonstrate likeThe Real Housewives of AtlantaandDancing with the Stars , Kim Fields can currently be go steady on the Netflix situation comedy , The Upshaws , play Regina Upshaw .
Mindy Cohn As Natalie Green
She Recently Acted In A Hallmark TV Movie Series
reference : Natalie Green wasknown for her way-out personality and superbia in her Judaic heritage . Over time , she found that she had a cacoethes for writing and pursue her dream by moving to New York City . Mindy Cohn , who played Natalie , was 13 at the startle of the series , and 22 when it ended .
A Nice Girl Like You(2020 )
Pricilla Blum
Mother Father Sister Brother Frank(2024 )
Joy
ribbon Royale(2024 - present )
Ann Holiday
Nancy McKeon As Jo Polniaczek
McKeon Traded TV For Theater
Character : Asthe designated " romp " of the group , Jo was almost always more interested in sports and motorcyclesthan make-up and boys . Beyond her tough outside , Jo ’s love for her Friend revealed a inwardness of gold . arrive in the 2d season ofThe fact of Life , Nancy McKeon was 14 when she first played Jo , and was 22 in the last season .
The Division(2001 - 2004 )
Inspector Jinny Exstead
Without a Trace(2007 )
Gail Sweeney
Panic(2021 )
Jessica Mason
Where Are They Now : Though she has n’t had a movie or TV deferred payment since 2021 , Nancy McKeon continues to act on the degree . Shemost recently appeared in the Off - Broadway dramatic play , Pen Pals , in February 2025 .
Charlotte Rae As Edna Garrett
Rae Died Of Bone Cancer In 2018
Character : The loving materfamilias ofThe fact of Life , Edna Garrett went from being the Drummonds ' housekeeper onDiff’rent Strokesto beingthe denmother at Eastland Academy Boarding School . On top of ladder her shop , she kept the girls in railway line and helped them through some of their toughest times .
Hair(1979 )
Hair
The Worst Witch(1986 )
Miss Cackle
You Do n’t Mess with the Zohan(2008 )
Mrs. Greenhouse
Cloris Leachman As Beverly Ann Stickle
Leachman Died From A Stroke In 2021
Character : Played by legendary comedic performer Cloris Leachman , Beverly Ann Stickle was Edna ’s sister . In the show ’s ninth season , Beverly take over as the girls ' mother figure when Charlotte Rae entrust the serial . Vibrant and quirky , Beverly was a valued booster who provided a much - involve vacancy as the fille grew older .
The Last Picture Show(1971 )
Ruth Popper
Young Frankenstein(1974 )
Frau Blücher
The Croods(2013 )
Gran
Where Are They Now : With almost 300 acting credits to her name , Cloris Leachman continue to be a fecund actress properly up until her death . She died of a slash on January 27 , 2021 , with COVID-19 being a contributing factor . Leachman was 94 years previous ( viaPeople ) .
John Lawlor As Steven Bradley
Lawlor Died in February 2025
Character : Played by John Lawlor , Steven Bradley was the headmaster of Eastland Academy School for Girlsin time of year 1 ofThe Facts of Life . Although he sometimes had trouble touch on to the students at the all - fille school , Steven cared deep about them and help when he could .
Phyllis(1976 - 1977 )
Leonard Marsh / Officer Hale
Wyatt Earp(1994 )
Judge Spicer
Gold(2016 )
Mining Expert
Where They Are Now : As reported byThe Hollywood Reporter , John Lawlor died at the age of 83 on February 13 , 2025 , in a veteran ’s hospice palisade by class . His last part was in 2017 as Elmer Knowland in the Netflix Western series , Godless.
The Facts Of Life Supporting Characters
Some Of The Supporting Cast Are Still Acting
Mackenzie Astin as Andy Moffat : Andy come into the seventh season ofThe Facts of Life , eventually becomingBeverly ’s foster son . Mackenzie Astin was 12 when he played Andy , and still keep to have a successful playacting life history , most latterly appear in the acclaimed HBO Max medical drama , The Pitt .
Felice Schachter as Nancy Olson : A fellow Eastland bookman , Nancy was both a friend and rival of Blair ’s , and she was often seen talk on the earpiece with her illusive fellow . Schachter retired from acting in 2001 , and is now a teacher for peculiar need students in New York .
Julie Piekarski as Sue Ann Weaver : Smart and competitive , Sue Ann was the top academic educatee at Eastland , and was friends with Nancy , Natalie , Tootie , and Cindy . Piekarski took a break from do afterThe fact of Lifeended , but has since pass to appear in a turn of independent films .
Julie Ann Haddock as Cindy Webster : The most acrobatic of her Quaker group at school , Cindy was involved in intimately every sport , include baseball , hockey , and cut . Although she retired from play afterThe fact of Life , Haddock still enjoys talk about her time on the serial publication in consultation and when she attends convention .
George Clooney as George Burnett : Before he was one of Hollywood ’s full-grown picture show stars , George Clooney played George Burnett onThe Facts of Life . George was a carpenter who helped reconstruct Edna Garrett ’s shopwhen it burned down , and became close friends with her and the girls . Clooney of late reunited with hisOceans ’ 11co - ace Brad Pitt in the Apple TV+ original picture , Wolfs .
A - list worker George Clooney may have had a decade - long calling , but there is one genre of celluloid that he is done with , save the past times in the past .
Sherrié Austin as Pippa McKenna : seem in the final time of year , Pippa McKenna was an Australian exchange scholar and wealthy heiresswho conjoin the students at Eastland Academy . Formerly Sherrié Kren , Sherrié Austin began her country euphony vocation as a teenager , and continues to tape music in Nashville , Tennessee .
Molly Ringwald as Molly Parker : A big presence throughout the first season ofThe Facts of Life , Molly Parker was a fast - talker with a love for picture taking , and was close supporter with Sue Ann , Nancy , Natalie , Cindy , and Tootie . intimately known for star in ‘ 80s movies likePretty in PinkandThe Breakfast Club , Molly Ringwald has continued to act steadily over the years , and has a few upcoming projects .
Alex Rocco as Charlie Polniaczek : Star of the big and small covert in the 1970s and ‘ fourscore , Alex Rocco played Jo ’s father , Charlie , in 11 sequence ofThe fact of Life . Rocco continued to dissemble in tv set and moving picture long after the serial end . He kick the bucket on July 18 , 2015 , from genus Cancer at age 79 ( viaTHR ) .
Your Rating
Your comment has not been save up
